Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Netanyahu and Mamdani Escalate Clash Over Gaza War
Zohran Mamdani and Benjamin Netanyahu are arguing publicly about the war in Gaza.
Mamdani called Netanyahu a war criminal and accused him of helping cause terrible harm to Palestinians.
Netanyahu answered by accusing Mamdani of supporting Hamas and causing hatred against Jewish people in New York.
Mamdani says he criticizes the Israeli government, not Jewish people, and rejects claims that he is antisemitic.
He has also said he would arrest Netanyahu in New York, although he admitted he cannot legally do that.
Netanyahu is expected to speak at the United Nations General Assembly.
The International Criminal Court has accused Netanyahu and others of serious crimes, but Netanyahu rejects the case.
The argument is happening while many people have been killed in both Gaza and Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of supporting Hamas and inciting riots against New York Jews.
Mamdani called Netanyahu a war criminal and an architect of genocide against the Palestinian people in a CNN interview.
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday and said he would respond to Mamdani there.
Mamdani has said he would arrest Netanyahu if he entered New York, while acknowledging he lacks the authority to do so.
The exchange comes amid an International Criminal Court case against Netanyahu and the continuing Israel-Hamas war.
- Who
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
- What
- They exchanged accusations over the Gaza war, Hamas, antisemitism, and alleged incitement against Jews.
- When
- The latest exchange occurred days before Netanyahu's scheduled Thursday address to the United Nations General Assembly; Mamdani's CNN remarks were made on Monday.
- Where
- The statements concerned New York City, Israel, Gaza, and the United Nations General Assembly.
- Why
- The dispute followed Mamdani's criticism of Netanyahu and Israel's military actions in Gaza, as well as their broader disagreement over Hamas and the treatment of Jewish and Palestinian communities.
Mamdani and Critics of Israel
Netanyahu and His Supporters
Israel's conduct in Gaza
Mamdani and Critics of Israel
Mamdani describes Netanyahu as a war criminal and accuses him of overseeing a genocide against Palestinians.
Netanyahu and His Supporters
Netanyahu rejects the accusations, defends Israel's soldiers, and says the ICC case against him is bogus.
Mamdani's position toward Jewish people
Mamdani and Critics of Israel
Mamdani says he has condemned antisemitism and that criticism of Israeli government policy is being wrongly conflated with hatred of Jewish people.
Netanyahu and His Supporters
Netanyahu accuses Mamdani of supporting Hamas and inciting riots against New York Jews; some Republican opponents have called Mamdani antisemitic.
International Criminal Court
Mamdani and Critics of Israel
The ICC has accused Netanyahu and others of crimes against humanity in connection with the conflict.
Netanyahu and His Supporters
Netanyahu dismisses the case, while President Donald Trump has condemned the ICC as an out-of-control institution and urged member nations to leave it.
- Netanyahu's response
- He accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas and inciting riots against New York Jews.
- Mamdani's description
- Mamdani called Netanyahu a war criminal and an architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people.
- Upcoming speech
- Netanyahu is scheduled to speak at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.
- ICC case
- The International Criminal Court has accused Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and the late Hamas leader of crimes against humanity; Netanyahu calls the case bogus.
- Gaza death toll
- The Palestinian territory's health ministry says more than 73,000 people have been killed in Israel's offensive, roughly half women and children.
- Initial Hamas attack
- About 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the initial Hamas attack that triggered the war.
- United States and ICC
- The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court and is not bound by its rulings or arrest warrants.